Busy Busy Busy!

Wow! It's been awhile since I'd last blogged. Homeschooling, daily chores and squeezing in time for Joe has kept me plenty busy!
Homeschool is still going well. Today the boys and I went on a field trip with the Taranaki Home Educator Group to the Puke Ariki Museum where we attended a program on volcanoes. The boys learned about the formation of Mt. Taranki which is in New Plymouth's own backyard. They also got to make a volcano and have it erupt. This was our first activity with the homeschool group because the 2 others we had signed up for had been canceled due to weather. I met another American expat, homeschooler and also chatted with a lady I had met through viewing her farm that is for sale. The boys really seemed to enjoy the outing!
Billy is still loving it here and appreciates our quiet little town all the more after his quick trip to the States last month with Brylie. The girls, too, are all doing well, busy with school and other activities such as cricket, piano, tennis and soccer.
Joe is going well too. He's about all patched up and I have grown quite fond of him. I do wish I had more time to spend with him but I'm trying to take what I can get. Though I'm dreading winter and dark falling so early.
I have become rather obsessed (stop laughing, Mom!) with farm hunting.  Billy and I viewed a house last weekend on 12 acres but I was not very keen. Even on really dark, rainy days, our house has so many windows and so much natural light that, in the daytime, we don't have to turn on any lights. This house was quite dark and dated and I know that winter would be difficult in that environment.
I found another house that I love but it's kinda far and only on 2.5 acres. It's kitchen and laundry room are awesome though!!! And since I spend so much time in those two rooms, that's a real draw for me.
We are planning to look at the 7 acre lifestyle block that I had mentioned in a previous post again this weekend.
I'm really struggling with feelings of discontent living in town. I'd love to be able to raise a veggie patch with the boys, let the dogs run and tend to the horses in the afternoons after homeschooling without interfering with the evening meal and family time.  I'm praying that if that is not the will of God, He will remove the desire from my heart.